What is "half volley"

Volley \Vol"ley\, n.; pl. Volleys. [F. vol['e]e; flight, a volley, or discharge of several guns, fr. voler to fly, L. volare. See Volatile.]

1. A flight of missiles, as arrows, bullets, or the like; the simultaneous discharge of a number of small arms.

   Fiery darts in flaming volleys flew.
   --Milton.

   Each volley tells that thousands cease to breathe.
   --Byron.

2. A burst or emission of many things at once; as, a volley of words. ``This volley of oaths.''
   --B. Jonson.

   Rattling nonsense in full volleys breaks.
   --Pope.

3. 1. (Tennis) A return of the ball before it touches the ground.

   2. (Cricket) A sending of the ball full to the top of the wicket. Half volley.

      1. (Tennis) A return of the ball immediately after is has touched the ground.

      2. (Cricket) A sending of the ball so that after touching the ground it flies towards the top of the wicket.
         --R. A. Proctor.

         On the volley, at random. [Obs.] ``What we spake on the volley begins work.''
         --Massinger.

         Volley gun, a gun with several barrels for firing a number of shots simultaneously; a kind of mitrailleuse.

alt. 1 (context sports English) A stroke, in ball sports, in which the ball is hit immediately after it bounces off the ground 2 (context cricket English) A delivery that bounces just short of the blockhole n. 1 (context sports English) A stroke, in ball sports, in which the ball is hit immediately after it bounces off the ground 2 (context cricket English) A delivery that bounces just short of the blockhole

n. a tennis return made by hitting the ball immediately after it bounces

A half volley in tennis is a shot that is hit immediately after the ball bounces but before it reaches the apex of its bounce. It is sometimes called an "on the rise shot", or "short hop".